Monday, December 19, 2011

In this third book in the series, Esther has snagged a spot on a popular TV show and is filming in Harlem. When the show's star gets sick, Esther has some time to kill. This is never a good thing. On her way to snag a snack, she encounters a man being attacked by some sort of unearthly creatures. When she goes to the man's aid, she relizes that the creatures have ripped off his hand, ick, and there is no blood. Hmmmm. Zombies, mambos and big snakes ensue as Esther, Max and a crew of helpers fight to save New York from evil. (Again).

I just love this series. It is funny and touching. Esther is so cute and quirky, and so reckless that I sometimes want to shake her. Max is a doll. The new characters in this book were well developed and I attached to them right away. I still have hope for Esther's love life. I am putting the next book on hold right away.

If you are a sock knitter you are probably already familar with Cookie A, the designer of devine socks. Now she has a book and it is a must have. I have enjoyed her designs on Ravelry for a while now so this book is a dream come true. I have borrowed it from the library but it is definitely on my list to buy.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

This book is a hoot. Take 13 overachieving (for the most part) beauty queens, place on a deserted (supposedly) island without any adults and few cosmetics and what do you get. Well, in this case you get (on one level) a serious case of Girl Power Gone Wild, and on another level some pretty fierce political and social satire.

For the first time in most of their lives, these girls get to think for themselves and put their priorities on order. So we find out that we have an ultra feminist determined to bring down the pageant, a lesbian, a transgender person in transition, well, pretty much everyone has something to hide. I love the way the characters find their own voices and forge friendships, how they overcome obstacles and survive. I also love the pure absurdity of whole book. This is definitely a book for older teens. There is language and sex. I also think it is a bit sophisticated for tweens. Overall, a barrel of fun.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

3 1/2 stars -- Claudia Rose is a respected handwriting analyst. When a frenemy dies from an apparent suicide, Claudia is asked to analyze the suicide note. While hunting for good examples of the deceased handwriting for comparison, Claudia stumbles across more and more information that leads her to think this was no suicide. She also stumbles across a murder fiction and a hunky detective.

I liked this book. It took me a while to get to know Claudia. There were so many other characters who overshadowed her at first and so much going on. However, once she came out of the shadows, I really warmed up to her. The little bits about handwriting analysis were interesting but Lowe does not beat you over the head with it. This does not exactly feel like a cozy to me. It is set in LA and the illegal activities involved were a bit on the seedy side for a cozy. But as I said, I did enjoy it and will probably read the next in the series.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Morgan is your average 16 year old. She makes good grades and goes to church with her family. Her best friend, Bree, is part of the "in" crowd but they have remained friends even though they belong to different cliques. When a new boy, Cal, comes to school, Morgan is completely taken with him. She has never felt like that about a boy. What is even more surprising is that Cal seems to like her too. When Cal reveals that he and his family practice Wicca as a religion, Morgan, Bree and several other students are fascinated and attend one of his circles. It soon becomes apparent that when it comes to witchcraft, Morgan is anything but average.

I really enjoyed this book. Morgan is interesting because she is a really good girl who want to do the right thing. That is a hard stance for a 16 year old to take. Even when she tries to defy her parents wishes (they are totally against the whole witchcraft thing) her plans keep falling apart. The other characters are very good and represent the usual groups you see at a high school. I think the first person narrative rings true almost as if you are reading a diary. There is mystery and romance in the future. I will be reading the next book in the series.

Monday, June 6, 2011

School can be tough. Cliques can run a school and ruin the lives they really don't like. Melissa has returned to school after recovering from a terrible accident and of course everyone is happy she survived and taken her place as the queen of the "it" clique. But when everything starts coming up roses for the clique and their enemies start disappearing, Amy tries to join the group to find out what is happening.

This series is fun and can take you back to the days when being popular seemed like a life or death issue. In this one, it looks like it just might be. More experimenting on kids leads to disasterous conclusions. I wonder if we will see Melissa again.

This is a wonderful book. It is a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses and has everything a fairy tale should have, romance, evil pretending to be good, damsels in distress and surprisingly, humor. I found it very hard to put down but it took me about 50 pages to really get into it. Azalea, the oldest princess, is devoted to her family but does not always make the best decisions. Although she had sworn to her dying mother to protect her sisters, she unknowingly endangers all of them, her father and the kingdom. But she fights to make it right and finally calls on the most powerful magic of all, love. Beneath all the magic is a story of a family torn by loss and misunderstanding. This would be an outstanding mother/daugther book club choice.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Well, I have to say that I am disappointed. The book is a fast read, maybe because not a whole lot happens. We follow two people on the run and trying to clear one of them from charges of murder. They discover a lot of new clues, but even without them, I knew who the killer was almost from the start. There really were not any other possibles. There were all sorts of odd things brought up, one of the victims had recently had a baby for example, that led no where in the story. The love story was sort of lame. Two healthy young people with a past live in the same motel rooms night after night and nothing happens because the GUY doesn't want to get hurt. Right. And the whole ghost/psychic aspect was so weak that it is almost an afterthought. As I said, disappointed.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

4 1/2 stars. Addy Corwin has lived her entire life in the small Alabama town of Hannah. And nothing ever happens in Hannah, until the night she is attacked by some sort of demon and saved by an out of this world (literally) hunk of demon hunting manhood. So then Addy finds out that Hannah is Demon Central and one demon really has the hots for her.

I LOVE this book. It is so funny. Lexi George has her Southern down pat. I am from the south and it rang so true to me that it made me homesick. The fish-out-of-water demon hunters are also a hoot as they try to understand the inhabitants of Hannah and fight the attraction they have to Addy and her BFF Evie. The folks who populate Hannah add to the fun. The sex is steamy and just this side of ranchy. Well, actually, Addy's thinking about sex is more ranchy than the sex itself. Throw in a talking dog and flying kitten (long story) and this is an irresistable mix of fun and paranormal. There better be a sequel or I will have me a major hissy fit.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Kate has brought her mother to her childhood home to die. The previous four years have been a stuggle to keep her mother alive, now the end is near and Kate is trying to cope. When she meets the mysterious Henry, she is interested. He is inhumanly handsome. When he offers her a deal, pass seven tests and become immortal, she thinks he is just nuts. But when she sees him bring someone back from the dead, well, maybe he can help her mother too...

I really enjoyed this book. It is sad and sweet. I really like Kate. She is so practical even when she is thrust into a magical world. I also like Henry, even if I want to shake him sometimes. (just say the "L" word already). The writing is very accessible to teens. I think there is enough angst here for the average Twilight fan, but a much stronger female role model.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The story of the "Gifted" class continues. This time we find out the secret of the most mysterious member of the class, Carter Street. This series is great for what it is. It is an easy and fun series for tweens/teens. I have given it to some reluctant readers with pretty good success. I love Marilyn Kaye and am really hooked on the series. As more and more people learn the secrets of these kids, the mystery of where this series is going increases. This is the 6th book and I am not tired of it yet.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Amy, her friends, Tasha and Eric, and her arch enemy, Jeanine, are on a trip to NYC. But Amy gets sick and ends up in the hospital. When she comes around, she finds herself surrounded by Amy's and mysterious doctors.

I loved this one. It was just loads of fun. It was different, and that is a good thing. You don' t want the same old thing all the time. I love Marilyn Kaye.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Peter Octavian is a PI in Boston. He is also a vampire who is trying to live as much as a human as possible. He is separated for the vampire community but when a series of obviously supernatural killings come to his attention, he is determined to find the cause. Soon it is up to him to rescue a demonic book from an evil branch of the Catholic church, destroy the magicians who control it, and stop a vampire apocalypse. Whew!!!

I enjoyed this book even though it was bloodier than I usually like. The bloodiness was not in the entire book so there were breaks. It took a bit to get some of the concepts in this world, the church is basically controlling all the evil beings in the world, except vampires. The characters in the book are pretty irresistable though. Peter Octavian is very compelling. I am curious to see where this story is going. I can't believe that I only learned about it recently.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Librarian Charlie Harris and cat Diesel have snagged a prime cataloging a private collection of rare books owned by James Delacorte, a local elderly gentleman. Unfortunately the assignment comes with having to deal with Delacorte and his nutty, possible homicidal, family. And Charlie's son, Joel, has come to stay, having quit his job in a law firm bringing all his bagage, physical and psychological, with him. When James Delacorte turns up dead in his private library, father, son and cat are on the case.

I think I enjoyed this book more than the first. I love the characters and the town. These books feel like old style cozies, with a super observant amateur detective but Charlie is not annoying or interferring like some of the newer style cozy folks. I really enjoyed all the talk about the books in this one. Must be the librarian in me. I like the addition of Joel. I am looking forward to seeing father and son work together in the future.

Monday, May 16, 2011

In a post apocalyptic world, genetically engineered humans have overcome most of the diseases that have haunted man for centuries. However, their children are ticking timebombs. Females die at 20 and males at 25. While scientists search for a cure, young girls are forced into marriages to produce children so the human race will continue. Rhine is one of these girls. As a wife she is living in the lap of luxury. But it is a luxurious prison, and Rhine wants to spend her remaining years on her own terms.

Wow. What a book! I am still reeling from the emotions this book brought up. It is certainly about being able to make your own decisions and standing by your values. But it is also about caring for people even when they do not share your beliefs and values. It is about sacrifice and despair. It is about hope and love. It is so well written. I want to know where Rhine is going to go from here but I also want to know the fate of those left behind. I hope we get to find out.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Amy has promised her mother that she will not tell anyone the her secret. But the pressure of try to be someone she is not, and not being able to talk to anyone about it is taking it's toll on Amy and her best friend, Tasha. Tasha knows something is going on but she starts to think Amy is just not her friend any more. Amy is happy when her mother starts dating a really nice guy. Could he be too nice?

This is the second in the Replica series, my new lunch time reads. They are fast reads and lots of fun. There is more danger in this book but it is still suitable for tweens and teens. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

Rayne and Sunny are forced to hide out in a creepy boarding school for vampire slayers that is supposed to protect them from the fairies who are trying to find them. However, they seem to have jumped out of the pan and into the fire. Rayne has been left with no blood supply (cause no one but Sunny knows she is a vampire) and when a hunky slayer starts paying attention to her, well nature, um super-nature, takes it course and Rayne gets her first taste of human blood. She also finds out that things are definitely not what they seem at the school. Barely escaping with her life, Rayne now has to rejoin her blood coven to save Sunny from becoming the Queen of the Fairies. (Yeah, its complicated)

Hmmm, I have to admit that this was not my favorite in the series. I always have a bit of trouble when fairies are involved. But I am warming up to the idea and their Fairyland which is really more Fairytale Land. I always enjoy the girls though. Rayne is the narrator of this one and she is always snarky and fun. This book set up the next which sounds like it will be an adventure so I will definitely be reading it when it comes out. Hoping for more vamp/slayer action and less pixie dust.

Bianca and Lucas return to Evernight so Lucas can learn to live in his new form. Speaking of new forms, Bianca is learning more about being a wraith and the powers she has. But it is dangerous for Bianca because the vamps at Evernight, led by the uber-scary Mrs. Bethany, are still trapping wraiths. Will Bianca and company finally discover why?

Well, I am a bit sad. This is the last book in the Evernight series. As usual there is plenty of action and just a bit of teenish angst. I have really come to love the characters in this book. They are great examples of loyalty. It also has a lot to say about people who just accept what they have been told instead of seeking the truth. I am glad there is going to be a book about Balthazar, hopefully some of the other characters will show up there.

Crave is the second book in the Fallen Angel series. Jim Heron and company once again battle for one soul with all mankind at stake. I just love these books. I had a bad week or I would have raced through it. I hated to have to put it down. The story is good. The action is exciting. I found myself really caring about the characters.I have to admit that the sex scenes were a bit more than I like, but they were definitely hot and I was only skimming them. I like the twists and turns Ward gives us. It keeps the reader and characters on their toes. I know the next in the series will be just as good. I just have this feeling.